THE nation’s best ocean paddlers will battle for national titles in the newly launched FNB Mazars Durban Downwind surfski race on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June.
The new event will not only become the permanent home of both the KZN and Gauteng Surfski Champs annually, but this year’s opening edition also doubles as the 2014 South African Surfski Championships.
Starting at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club at Durban’s Addington Beach, paddlers head 26km either north to La Mercy or south to Amanzimtoti, depending on the wind direction. Under the watchful eye of race director Barry Lewin, the race seeks to become KwaZulu-Natal’s premier downwind surfski event.
“The depth of talent in South Africa when it comes to surfski paddlers is incredible, so every year the racing at SA Champs is really tight and I’m sure it will be again this year. It’s great to have SA Champs back here in my hometown this year. We haven’t had a top class downwind event in Durban for a while and it’s great to see big-name sponsors like First National Bank and Mazars getting on board,” said one of the world’s greatest paddlers of all time, Hank McGregor.
Despite dominating proceedings in his home town in recent years, McGregor regularly enjoys stiff opposition from Matthew Bouman as well as regular training partner Grant van der Walt, and McGregor believes the pair will certainly be in with a shot at this year’s nationals.
KZN’s top male competitors won’t be expecting home ground advantage to count for much though, especially as a world class Western Cape team gathers in and around Fish Hoek and surrounds.
Visit: www.durbandownwind.co.za
